Agricultural harvester with dual engines and power sharing based on engine temperature

Abstract

An agricultural harvester includes a first power unit and a second power unit. The first power unit is couplable with a first primary load, including a threshing system load. A first temperature sensor associated with the first power unit provides a first output signal. A second temperature sensor associated with the second power unit provides a second output signal. A first motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the first power unit, and a second motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the second power unit. The second motor/generator and the first motor/generator are electrically coupled together. At least one electrical processing circuit is coupled with the first temperature sensor, second temperature sensor, first motor/generator and second motor/generator. The at least one electrical processing circuit is configured for selective bidirectional transfer of electrical power between the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator, dependent on the first output signal and the second output signal.

1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
 a first power unit couplable with a first primary load, said first primary load including a threshing system load; 
 a first temperature sensor associated with said first power unit, said first temperature sensor providing a first output signal; 
 a second power unit; 
 a second temperature sensor associated with said second power unit, said second temperature sensor providing a second output signal; 
 a first motor/generator mechanically coupled with said first power unit; 
 a second motor/generator mechanically coupled with said second power unit, said second motor/generator and said first motor/generator being electrically coupled together; and 
 at least one electrical processing circuit coupled with said first temperature sensor, said second temperature sensor, said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, said at least one electrical processing circuit being configured for selective bidirectional transfer of electrical power between said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, dependent on said first output signal and said second output signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , wherein said first power unit and said second power unit are each an internal combustion (IC) engine with a radiator and an intake manifold. 
     
     
       3. The agricultural harvester of  claim 2 , wherein said first temperature sensor is positioned in association with one of:
 said radiator of said first power unit to sense a temperature of a liquid coolant; and 
 said intake manifold of said first power unit to sense a temperature of intake air. 
 
     
     
       4. The agricultural harvester of  claim 2 , wherein said second temperature sensor is positioned in association with one of:
 said radiator of said second power unit to sense a temperature of a liquid coolant; and 
 said intake manifold of said second power unit to sense a temperature of intake air. 
 
     
     
       5. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , wherein said second power unit is couplable with a second primary load, said second primary load including a propulsion load. 
     
     
       6. The agricultural harvester of  claim 5 , wherein said first power unit includes a first drive train and said second power unit includes a second drive train, said first primary load being driven by said first drive train and said second primary load being driven by said second drive train. 
     
     
       7. The agricultural harvester of  claim 5 , wherein each of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator include a mechanical input, a mechanical output, and an electrical input/output. 
     
     
       8. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator are configured to electrically drive at least one external load. 
     
     
       9. The agricultural harvester of  claim 8 , wherein each said external load corresponds to one of a parasitic load and an auxiliary load, each said parasitic load being a non-drivetrain load without operator intervention, and each said auxiliary load being a non-drivetrain load with operator intervention. 
     
     
       10. A work machine, comprising:
 a first power unit couplable with a first primary load; 
 a first temperature sensor associated with said first power unit, said first temperature sensor providing a first output signal; 
 a second power unit, said second power unit being mechanically independent from said first power unit; 
 a second temperature sensor associated with said second power unit, said second temperature sensor providing a second output signal; 
 a first motor/generator mechanically coupled with said first power unit; 
 a second motor/generator mechanically coupled with said second power unit, said second motor/generator and said first motor/generator being electrically coupled together; and 
 at least one electrical processing circuit coupled with said first temperature sensor, said second temperature sensor, said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, said at least one electrical processing circuit being configured for selective bidirectional transfer of electrical power between said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, dependent on said first output signal and said second output signal. 
 
     
     
       11. The work machine of  claim 10 , wherein said first power unit and said second power unit are each an internal combustion (IC) engine with a radiator and an intake manifold. 
     
     
       12. The work machine of  claim 11 , wherein said first temperature sensor is positioned in association with one of:
 said radiator of said first power unit to sense a temperature of a liquid coolant; and 
 said intake manifold of said first power unit to sense a temperature of intake air. 
 
     
     
       13. The work machine of  claim 11 , wherein said second temperature sensor is positioned in association with one of:
 said radiator of said second power unit to sense a temperature of a liquid coolant; and 
 said intake manifold of said second power unit to sense a temperature of intake air. 
 
     
     
       14. The work machine of  claim 10 , wherein said work machine is an agricultural harvester, and said second power unit is couplable with a second primary load, said second primary load including a propulsion load. 
     
     
       15. The work machine of  claim 14 , wherein said first power unit includes a first drive train and said second power unit includes a second drive train, said first primary load being driven by said first drive train and said second primary load being driven by said second drive train. 
     
     
       16. The work machine of  claim 14 , wherein each of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator include a mechanical input, a mechanical output, and an electrical input/output. 
     
     
       17. The work machine of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator are configured to electrically drive at least one external load. 
     
     
       18. The work machine of  claim 17 , wherein each said external load corresponds to one of a parasitic load and an auxiliary load, each said parasitic load being a non-drivetrain load without operator intervention, and each said auxiliary load being a non-drivetrain load with operator intervention. 
     
     
       19. The work machine of  claim 10 , wherein said work machine comprises one of a construction work machine, an agricultural work machine, a forestry work machine, a mining work machine, and an industrial work machine. 
     
     
       20. A method of operating an agricultural harvester, comprising the steps of:
 driving a threshing system load with a first power unit; 
 driving a propulsion load with a second power unit, said second power unit being mechanically independent from said first power unit; 
 driving a first motor/generator with said first power unit; 
 driving a second motor/generator with said second power unit; 
 sensing a first temperature associated with said first power unit and a second temperature associated with said second power unit; 
 determining if one of said first power unit and said second power unit is in an overload state, dependent upon said first temperature and said second temperature, respectively; and 
 bidirectionally transferring electrical power between said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, dependent upon said determined overload state. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of operating a work machine of  claim 20 , wherein said first temperature is asociated with one of:
 a temperature of liquid coolant associated with said first power unit; and 
 a temperature of intake air associated with said first power unit. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of operating a work machine of  claim 20 , wherein said second temperature is associated with one of:
 a temperature of liquid coolant associated with said second power unit; and 
 a temperature of intake air associated with said second power unit.